Coupling for tractor and trailer vehicles



Jan. 27, 1959 F. DEMAREST COUPLING FOR TRACTOR AND TRAILER VEHICLES Filed Aug. 27, 1957 Z/ x W w w 6 3 a g 4 Z I 3 l 3 %1H, 6 a 0 5% II I 3! 0M n m 44% 3 MW .II T Z i fl z (5, 4 I- H yfl n n m 6 m1 W 5 30 p l ic ti onf being. fan improvement e'nt application designated Serial August-2, now latent No.

device of, theaforementioned ,charaeter which will facilitate the hitching oftractor"vehiclesto trailer .vehicles. A still further. object ofrny .invention is to provide a deviceof the afore ,entioned charaeter which can be manipulated byone hand, of the person hitching thevehieles, perrnittingesaid person to release the adjustable slide or tongueg and at the same time release the pawl holding the slideor tongue in retracted p$ition; the other hand being free ,to align the drawbar with itsc levis con neetion for insertion .of, the connecting pinor bolt. thus completing,the hitching ofthe vehicles.; I

1 A st l .f unth n e t. 1 m I in nti n t :t P o d stop rrieans for locking he' paiwl n eansgin retracted posik tion and slotted .web stop means providing an edge for stopping theslide or tongue whenj in extended position. A further objeetof my invention is to provide a device .of the aforementioned character which" can be utilized for the purposes foruwhich .it is purported toobel used, which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture in quantity'produ'ctionL Other objects, features and advantages resident in; my in n ie wi l beq weer temvfr m.an. am aa n of the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description, in which;

Fig. 1 is a top view of my coupling invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the cover ofthe coupling removed showing the interior mechanism thereof, also showing the slide or tongue in extended position.

. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on

the lines 3-3 of Fig. l. i

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on the lines 44 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on the lines 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on the lines 66 of Fig. 2.

My invention is clearly described, in greater detail, in said co-pending application referred to hereinabove and some of the elements that relate this structure to the structure outlined in said co-pending application have been assigned the same numerical characters.

The invention is generally designated and includes a drawbar pertaining to a trailer vehicle which is to be connected to the coupling instrumentality. The coupling has a flared out case portion 26 for reasons which will become apparent as the description progresses.

The slide or tongue 27 operates slidably within the case and is provided with a saddle suport57,' the same being interconnected by the bolt 41 which secures articuately said saddle 57 and said tongue 27. 1 The slide or tongue 27 is provided with extendedwing portions 28 so as to align the same within the flared out portion 26 of the casing when the slide or tongue is in retracted position to loc ate it firmlytherein, and at the same time permitting;artici lation of'the slide. or; tongue 27 when the same is extended position inorderto facilitate hitching, operations betweenthe tractor and the trailer vehicles..

,The connection isefiectuated by means of a slip pin or bolthaving a head 29ar1da reduced body 30 so that it willretain the .clevisf 32 in separable connection with the tongue or slide 27, theclevis articulating at33 where it is riveted tojpermit articulation. The ditferences or special featuresof instant invention reside in the provision of two guide flanges 34 interiorly of the casing 46 on which is mouritedj the pawl 36 .The said pawl of th'e b olt 41 as shown in Fig. 3 when the assembly is inoperative position'jor in U retracted position. i The pawl is held in looking engagement releasably by virtue of. a spring3 8iwhichis anchoredpnthestub pin 37 on the cover of the casing, and the mating stub pin 39 on the pan/1 36. The pawl 36, has securedthereto ama'nipulatingbolt having .an elongatedjhead fl which is of rectangular formation and has an undercnt groove49 for the pin 50 whieh fits thereinto in order to affordrotationtotheboltfil;

vided with two indentations 51 and 5 2. which are disposed 9O, apartflso as to .afiordfstopping points for the rota tion of thebolth'ead47i. When the bolt head 47 is in The casing is provided with an intermediate web 44 which has a slotted portion terminating in a locking edge 45 so as to afiord a stop when the bolt 41 has its locking edge 42 reach that point so as to limit the travel of the slide or tongue 27, and to afford a range of movement for hitching operations in order to facilitate the connection of the vehicles. Thus the bottom 58 of the head of the bolt 47 looks or prevents depression of the bolt when it is. substantially in contact with the top surface of the web 44 and when rotated will afford operation of the pawl in order to effectuate the movement hereinbefore mentioned. The connection of the vehicles, namely, the tractor and the trailer is efiectuated in the same manner as clearly described in my co-pending patent application with the exception that greater facility is ob tained with my present improvement inasmuch as the palm of the hand which grasps the slide or tongue 27 can simultaneously depress the bolt 47 releasing the pawl 36 from engagement and allowing the slide or tongue 27 to be manipulated within the range of its movement so as to not necessitate the precise backing up of a tracand that it may be practiced in other forms without departing frornthe er s -;what I claim as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A tractoficoupling or hitch, 'cdmprisinga Body,"a cover secured to saidfb'od'y" formingfinterior "confines for cope thereof; my invention the operating mechanism of saidi'tractor"coupling, ex-

"tendable and "retractable tongue means mounted within said interior confines, latch locking means mounted' on said tonguemeans, spring u'rged latch means articula'tely mountedwithin said interior confines and having an edge thereof in locking abutment with said latch' locking means, web means positioned within [said interiorcorr fines provided withedgeirieans toarrest the eXtendable movement ofsaid tongue means, locl ing 'bolt means ro- 'tatably secured' to" one endfof said locking latch means and provided with anfelongatedhead for locking said latch means against accidental tripping thereof, and saddle means mounted pivotably to said tongue means and a 2 A tractor coupling or hitch, comprising a body, a

cover secured to said"b ody"fo'rmin'g interior confines for the operating mechanism of said tractor coupling, ex-

tendable and retractable "and radially adjustable tongue means mounted within said interior confines, latch locking means mounted on'said tohguemeans, spring-urged latch means articulatelyl mounted within said interior confines and havingan edgether'eof in'locking' abutment with said latch'locking means, web means 'positioned substantial areas'of their flat surfaces remain in facing contact at all times thus furnishing rigid support to said tongue means when inextended position.

I 3. A tractor coupling or hitch, c'ompri'sing'a' body, a cover secured to said body forming interior confines for the operating mechanism of said tractor coupling,

extendable and retractable tongue means mounted within said interior confinesylatch locking'means' mounted on said tongue means, spring-urged latch-means articulately' mounted within said interior confines and having an edge thereof in locking abutment with said latch locking means, web means positioned within said interior confines provided with edge means to arrest the extendable movement of said tongue means, locking bolt means rotatably secured to'one end of said locking latch means and pro vided with an elongated head for locking said latch means against accidental tripping thereof, and saddle means mounted pivotably to said tongueme'ahs and in intimate contacttherewith SOx'thflt substantial areas1of:.their flat surfaces remain in facing contact at all times thus furnishing rigid supp'o'r't' 'tosaid tongue'means when in extended position, and bolt and nut means for securing said body and said cover in assembly.

4. A tractor coupling or hitch, comprising a body, a cover secured to saidbody forminginterior confinesffor the operating mechanism of said tractor coupling, extendable and retractable and radially adjustable tongue means mounted within said interior confines, latch" locking means mounted on said tongue means, spring-urged latch means articulately mounted within said interior confinesand having an" edge" thereof in locking abutment with said latch locking means, web means positioned within said interior-confines provided with edge means to arrest the extend'ablemovement of said tongue means, locking bolt means rotatably secured to one end of said locking latch means and provided with an elongatedhead for locking said latch m'e'ans against accidental tripping thereof, and saddle" means" mounted pivotably to said" tonguemeans andini'ntimate contacttherewithso that substantial areas of their flat surfaces' r'e'm'aih' in'facing contact at all-time's thus furnishing rigid support 'to"said tongue me'ans" when in extended position, an'dboltand'nut means'fer securing saidbody and said cover in assembly;

' 'lfeferen'ce's (fitted in the file or this patent UNITED STATES, PATENTS 2,717,163. Martin Sept; 6, 1955 '1 QFOREIGNIPATENTS" I I 4 438,970} Germany r; Ian.- 11, "1930 

